Venice is known the world over for being the romantic city of lovers, and it certainly has its fair share of quiet little eateries and beautiful backdrops if you’re feeling a little amorous during a visit to what has to be one of Italy’s most popular tourist hotspots.
I’m a big fan of Italy, and with its tasty and wholesome Mediterranean food, picturesque scenery and balmy summer days, it’s easy to see why the country is so popular with tourists of all age groups and backgrounds.
I was lucky enough to spend a couple of days in Venice during a holiday to the beautiful Lake Garda area in 2008 and I was instantly taken with the cities amazing architecture and with the pretty little cafes and restaurants dotted along the edges of the many canals to be found in this ancient place.
Despite the wealth of history and culture to be seen and experienced in Venice, there’s still a very cosmopolitan feel to the city, and to this effect you’ll find plenty of shops selling the latest fashion and accessories if you fancy burning a hole in your pocket (and your credit card).
If you’re looking for ideas for your next holiday, why not travel to Italy and stay in one of the pretty towns surrounding Lake Garda such as Malcesine where I stayed during my visit (don’t forget to purchase a travel insurance policy before heading out to Italy; especially important if you intend to take part in the variety of watersports to be enjoyed at the lake).
If you get chance to spend a day or two in Venice, here are my top recommendations for what to see and do whilst you’re there:
The Grand Canal
The most famous canal in Venice and the largest, the Grand canal is an s-shaped stretch which winds through the city for around 2.4 miles following the course of an ancient river. Lining the edges of the canal are many stunning examples of Venetian architecture ranging from the 13th to 18th centuries.
The best way to experience the Grand Canal is of course by travelling along it. It’s pretty easy to get a Vaporetti (water bus) which will take you from one end to the other and award you with some brilliant photo opportunities along the way.
Rialto Bridge
In days gone by there was only one bridge that crossed the Grand Canal, these days there are 4 to choose from, but the Rialto Bridge is still the most beautiful in my opinion.
You’ll usually find it’s packed with tourists during peak season, but it’s definitely worth seeing as one of the most iconic sights in Venice. Amazingly, the bridge was originally opened in 1591 and still looks as beautiful today as it did back then.
If you get chance, it’s also worth visiting the Scalzi Bridge and the new ultra modern Calatrava Bridge (opened in 2008).
St. Mark’s Square
The only square in Venice large enough to be designated a “Piazza”, St. Mark’s square is extremely popular with tourists and I can see why. Although famous enough in its own right, the square is of course the home of awe-inspiring St. Mark’s Basilica and the instantly recognizable Campanile (the Basilica’s 323ft tall bell tower).
You’ll also find the square is home to many, many pigeons, but feeding them is illegal due to the damage they’ve caused to the mosaics of the Basilica.
Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs is a beautiful example of Italian Renaissance architecture that was completed in 1602 and was designed to link the Doge’s Palace to the new prison just across the palace river which separates the two.
It’s a weird and wonderful site, perched high above the river between the two buildings and only 36ft in span, but it really is stunning and will certainly make you sigh as you view it (see what I did there?).
There are many different stories regarding how the bridge came by its name, the most sensible of which describes how a prisoner being taken across to the prison for execution would sigh as he caught his last glimpse of the outside world.
I prefer the more romantic tale which says that couples sharing a kiss underneath the bridge at sunset will have eternal love and be so taken with the romance that they’ll breathe a sigh as they pass below.
Gondola Ride
If you’ve travelled all the way to Venice and don’t take a gondola ride, then shame on you; what trip could be complete without taking a ride along the beautiful canals that Venice is so very famous for?
You might find it will set you back a bit, but it really is the best way to experience the city in all its spectacular Venetian glory. As you drift slowly along the quiet canals with the sound of the water lapping against the side of the gondola, you’ll find it difficult not to feel the romance that sizzles in the air all around this amazing place.
The job of gondolier is interestingly passed down from generation to generation and is considered a noble profession by the Venetian’s – perhaps the reason it’s so expensive…
Images by Mike_fleming
